Gwen Stephens, a native of Stuttgart and a 1968 graduate of Stuttgart High School, retired as recording secretary of Stuttgart Unlimited Tuesday at the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce.

Patti Wilkerson, chairperson of Stuttgart Unlimited, along with other Stuttgart Unlimited members presented Stephens with a cake and parting gifts.

"We want her to come back and see us anytime," Wilkerson said. "She will be missed."

Stephens, administrative assistant to Richard Bell, said that she began attending Stuttgart Unlimited meetings with Bell and before she knew it she was drafted into the job.

"They do a lot for Stuttgart that the citizens of Stuttgart don't even know," Stephens said. "It is a great organization."

Stuttgart Unlimited members pay yearly dues and attend a meeting once a month, Stephens said.

"There are six executive board members of Stuttgart Unlimited," Stephens said. "I have enjoyed being the recording secretary and I may stop in just to say hi. I am going to assist in the trasistion of a new recording secretary."

Stephens is a member of Let's Paint Stuttgart, the Arts Council of the Grand Prairie, Stuttgart Woman's Club, Southland Woman's Club and a member of St. John's Lutheran Church.

For eight years Stephens was a faithful volunteer of Easter Seals Child Development Center in Stuttgart and was named Volunteer of the Year by Easter Seals of Arkansas.

Stephens, who is the former Gwen Parker, has been married for 41 years to Donald Stephens, a local businessman, who owns Stuttgart Auto Body. They have one son, Jeramy, a daughter-in-law, Angie and two grandsons, Conner and Jack.